Dipper for excavators



M. E. PUGH.

DIPPER FOR EXCAVATORS.

APPLICATION mu) APR.3, 191a.

Patented May 11, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

M. E. PUGH.

DIPPER FOR EXCAVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3. 191s Patented May 11, 1920.

2 SHEE |SSHEET 2.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Mormons. roan, or FULTON, MISSOURI.

mrmm r03. ExcAvA'roRs.

To all whom it may concerm.

Beit known that I, MORTON E. -PUGH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Fulton, in the countyof- Callaway and State of Missouri, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements-inlDippers for Excavators; and I do -ings, and to the numerals of reference hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawmarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference more par ticularly to a dipper for excavating machines which is adapted to be suspended from a movable support and controlled so as to take up and discharge material as desired by an operator at a distance therefrom.

In excavating machinesof this character the dipper is connected'with a movable support so as to' operate over a considerable area,- and is also adj ustably suspended therefrom so that its position may be constantly changed according to the requirements of the work, and it is necessary that the dumping mechanism shall be under complete control of an operator at a distance therefrom at all times so as to take up and dump material as desired, and particularly so that the dumping mechanism will positively hold the material in the dipper without danger of premature dumping until the point is reached at which the material is to be discharged, and simple and convenient means must be provided for controlling and effecting the dumping operation. It is also desirable that the cable whereby the dipper is suspended may be prevented from getting out of place when the cable is loosened, or slackened during the filling operation of the dipper and that the' dipper shall be otherwise constructed so as to be capable of serving its purpose effectively and without attention other than that required to operate it.

It is an object therefore of my invention to provide an improved dipper construction and, control therefor which is substantially constructed to withstand the severe usage to which an excavating dipper is subjected and wherein the liability of displacement of parts and premature dumping of the dipper is eliminated.

Another object of my invention is to 'pro- Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d M 11 1920 Application filed April 3,

1918. Serial No. 226,370.

vide a dipper with a pivoted bottom for dlscharging. thecontents thereof and improved locking means under the control of the operator for effectively holding the.

' bottom and locking means for holding the bottom closed, suitably arranged so that it is not exposed to the material as it is discharged from the dipper.

Another object of the invention is to provide an excavating dipper with a pivoted bottom and locking means at the receiving end for holding the dipper bottom closed and means controlled by the operation f0 actuating the locking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction to prevent displacement of the suspending cable when the cable is slackened.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a dipper which issubstantially constructed so as to withstand the severe usage to which it" is subjected, and which is composed of parts suitably assembled so that repairs and replacement can be readily made.

My invention has also other important-objects which will appear fromthe following specification and the accompanying drawm s.

.y invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and described in the following specification.

On. the drawings: a

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an excavating machine employing my improved dipper, and shows the dipper elevated'in the dumping position. 'i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the dipper with the bottom closed and shows the connections whereby it is suspended and operated.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts thereof in the position with the Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of the dipper shown in Fig. 4.

As shown on the drawings: 7

The derrick with which my dipper or bucket is-used may be of any suitableconstruction, a common form being illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein 1 is a platform which 1s revolubly mounted on a base 2, and has one end of the boom 3, horizontally pivoted to one end of the platform 1 so that the outer end of the boom 3 may be raised and lowered. A boiler 4 is mounted on the platform 1 at the opposite end thereof from the boom 3 so as to counterbalance the weight of the boom, and supplies motive power for operating a Windlass which is indicated generall at 5 and has the drums 6, 7 and 8 on whic cables are wound for operating the boom 3 and a dipper or bucket suspended at the outer end thereof. In some cases as for instance when the derrick is to be used for loading or unloading purposes the base 2 may be permanently mounted but it 1s oftentimes made portable so that the excavator can be moved from place to place. Mechanism is also provided for rotating the platform 1, so that the dipper at the end of the boom may be swung circularly around the base 2.

A braced frame 9 is mounted on the platform 1, and at the upper end has a sheave block 10,"around which is passed a cable 11, which engages a sheave block 12, which is connected to the outer end of the boom. The cable 11 has one end attached to the frame 9 and has the other end passed over a guide sheave 13, on the frame 9, and wound on the drum 6, so that-the outer end of the boom is held in the desired position of elevation and may be raised and lowered by the operation of the drum 6. Another cable 14, is wound on the drum 7, and passed over a guide sheave 15, on the frame 9, and a sheave 16, at the outer end of the boom and has the outer end thereof fastened to the outer end of the boom so as to provide a loop 17 which is passed around the sheave 18, attached to the dipper whereby the dipper is supported soas to be raised and lowered by the operation of the drum 7. From the foregoing, it will be noted that the dipper may be raised and lowered by operating the drum 6, and raising and lowering the outer end of the boom or it may be raised and lowered independently of the boom by operating the drum 7, to wind and unwind the cable 14, by means of which the bucket is suspended, and the bucket may also be swung circularly around the base 2, byrevolving the entire platform. 1, and the boom 3, so that the bucket may be operated at any place thereabout. I

By reason of the cable suspension of the dipper, the bucket may be swung, on its support, and in operation, it is customary to slack up on the cable 14, so that the bucket rests upon the ground or the matetom thereof then unfastened so that it will drop down, due to the weight of the material therein and discharge the material from the dipper. For drawing the dipper inwardly toward the platform 1, a cable 19, is connected with the dipper and passed between the guide sheaves 20 and 21, and wound upon the drum 8,-s0 as to be controlled by the operator on the platform 1.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent, that the dipper is provided with an openable bottom and has the side thereof nearest the platform 1, open so that the material may be scooped therein and also that the bottom must be kept closed until the dipper is moved to the dumping position and must be capable of being opened preferably by the operator on the platform 1, at such time.

The dipper which I have provided is constructed of the side plates 24, the rear ends of which are connected by means of a rear plate, and a cross brace, at the upper edge thereof, both of which are securely riveted or otherwise fastened to the side plates 24,

to provide a stout construction. A reinforcing plate 28, is secured to the inner face of each side plate 24, and extends along the upper edge thereof, and a bracket 29, is attached to the, outer face of each side plate 24, and has the upper end thereof spaced from the side plate and provided with an opening therein in alinement with a corresponding opening in the side plate 24, and reinforcing plate 28 in which the stub-shaft or pivot pin 30 is secured whereby the dipper is pivotally suspended. A hanger plate is connected with the sheave 18 whereby the dipper is supported, and has a bracket 33.

24 of the dipper and has the pivot'pin 30 passed therethrough so that the bucket is horizontally pivoted thereon. This pivotal connection is arranged about midway of the front and rear of the dipper, but somewhat nearer to the front thereof as shown in the drawings so that the center of gravity of the dipper and the load carried thereby is slightly to the rear of the pivot in order that the dipper will be disposed to tilt rearwardly rather than forwardly.

The bottom of the dipper is composed of a main plate 36 which has a tapered front edge and a recess along the rear edge, in which the bottom plate 39 is secured so that the upper surface thereof is flush with the upper surface of the main plate 36. Reinforcing ribs 40, are provided on the bottom of the plate 39 and taper forwardly and 1- the ground. At the forward edge of the plate 36 are a plurality of prongs 42, which extend forwardly beyond the plate 36 and are bent downwardly and sharpened at their forward ends so as to engage into the material to be taken up by the bucket as the bucket is drawn forwardly thereon and cause the bucket to be filled with the material. These prongs are arranged close together so as to provide substantially a continuous surface across the front of the dipper bottom and are of unequal length so that every alternate one projects entirely across the plate 36 and projects onto the surface of the plate 39, and is riveted or otherwise secured to both the plate 36 and the plate 39 to assist in holding these two plates together. The intermediate prongs extend only across the plate 36 and are riveted or otherwise secured to the plate 36, and have the rear connection thereof made through the overlapping portions of the plates 36 and 39 so as to make a substantial construction. These prongs, it will be observed, are bent downwardly at the forward end of the plate 36 and abut thereagainst so that the strain of the engagement of the prong with the earth or other material as the dipper isdrawn therealong is resisted not only by the rivets or other attaching means whereby the prongs are secured to the plate 36 but also by the abutment of the prong against the forward edge of the plate.

Each end of the main plate 36 is bent upwardly and drilled to permit the bottom to be pivotably attached to the dipper. A bail 49, is riveted or otherwise secured to said I plate 36, and extends forwardly and has the hub intermediate of the side arms thereof and a link 51 at each side of the hub connecting the bail with a chain 52, the outer end of which chain is connected with the pulling cable 19 whereby the dipper is drawn along the ground. This bail 49 extends forwardly and is arched upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 so as to permit the earth or other material to pass freely into the dipper and the-bail is so related to the dipper bottom that when a pull is exerted by the cable 19 and chain 52 the dipper bottom is drawn closed.

The dipper bottom is attached to the dipper by means of cylindrical bearings at each side thereof which are inserted in slots of the side plates 24 and held therein by means of reversely slotted plates which are secured one at the inside and one at the outside of the plate 24 and are attached thereto so as to hold the cylindrical bearings in position to permit the bottom of the dipper to freely open and close.

of the dipper.

There is also a bracket 56 secured to the outer face of each side plate 24 having an opening 57 through which is passed an axial stem 58.

In operating the dipper, the loop 17 of the cable 1% is slackened or released sufficiently so that the bucket drops down on the material to be taken up thereby and the dipper bottom is then closed by the weight The dipper is then drawn inwardly toward the platform 1 by means of the cable 19 which is attached to the bail 49 and the material is thus scooped into the dipper, after which it is elevated and carried to the dumping position and dumped, and it is necessary that the dipper bottom shall remain closed after the dipper is filled and elevated and until such time as the operator may desire that it is to be dumped. To insure the dipper bottom being held closed I have provided a toggle lever or link mechanism 60 which is connected with the dipper and the hub 50 of the bail and which when extended holds the dipper bottom closed, and which must be collapsed in order that the dipper bottom may open, and this lever 60 is connected with the pulling cable 19 so that as long as a pull is exerted bv the cable 19 the lever 60 will be held extended so that the dipper bottom cannot open and when the pull is released on the cable 19 the lever 60 is able to collapse and ,permit opening of the dipper bottom. This lever 60 may be constructed in any suitable man ner but I have shown herein a preferred form wherein the two members are pivotally connected together by a pivoted end 67.

One end of this lever 60 is attached to a transverse shaft 74 which is connected at each end with one of the side plates 24.

This lever 60 is arranged to break downwardly intermediate of its ends by reason of its pivotal connection at 67 and the pivot 67 is connected by means of a chain 76 with the outer end of the cable 19, so that when a pull is exerted on the cable 19, the chain 76, is drawn taut so as to hold the lever 60 from collapse, and the weight of the arms of the lever 60 is such that when the chain 76 is released the lever 60 will collapse by reason of its own weight and permit the bail 49, to swing upwardly and open the bottom of the dipper. It is to be understood of course that the chain 52 serves entirely to pull the dipper, and that the chain 76 is not designed to serve this purpose but is adapted merely to be extended and hold the lever 60 against collapse when the chain 52 is drawn taut. If desired a spring may be interposed in the length of the chain 76 so as to provide for excessive strain which might at times be applied thereto and which might otherwise cause breakage of the chain 76.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a modified form of my device for holding the dipper bottom closed.

and preventing premature opening thereof, in which a lever 77 similar to the lever is employed and connected with the dipper bail and cross shaft 74 in a similar manner, but is arranged to break upwardly instead of downwardly as in the case of the lever 60 which I have just described. With this arrangement when the pull is exerted on the cable 19 and chain 52 and the dipper bottom closed the lever 77 will be extended and said lever 77 by reason of its own weight and because it can only break upwardly will serve to hold the dipper bottom closed. The chain 76 may if desired be connected with the pivot 67 of the lever 7 7 and have the other end connected with the end of the cable 19, the intermediate portion thereof being extended under the bail 49, so that a pull on the cable 19 will exert a downward pull on the hinge of the lever 77 to extend the lever and also to hold the lever from accidental folding or collapse so long as the cable 19 is extended, and will require such pull to be released before the lever 77 can be collapsed and the dipper bottom opened.

Inasmuch as this lever 77 breaks upwardly and will normally remain extended because of its own weight it is necessary to provide some means for breaking the lever when it is desired to dump the contents of the bucket. For this purpose I have provided the inner arm of the lever 77 with a number of perforations 79 whereby a trip rope 80 is connected and this rope extends upward around a sheave at the outer end of the boom 3. The other end of this rope 80, may extend tothe platform 1, so as to be controlled by the operator thereon or may extend downwardly so as to be controlled by an independent operator on the ground.

The sheave 18, around which the cable 17, is passed for supporting and raising or lowering the dipper, is journaled intermediate of the plates 82 on a shaft 81 mounted in the plates 82. The upper ends of the plates 82, beyond the periphery of the sheave 18, are connected and spaced by means of a bolt and sleeve.

Bolts 91 and plates 92, serve to connect the plates 82, with the hanger plates 33.

When an ordinary sheave block is used for supporting the dipper in the cable loop 17, it frequently occurs that as the loop 17 is slackened the cable drops out of the groove in the sheave 18 and does not properly engage therein when the slack is taken up and the cable is damaged or the operation of excavator interfered with. In order to prevent displacement of the cable from the groove of the sheave 18, I have provided a plate 94, at each side of the sheave inside of the plates 82 which said plates embrace substantially the lower half of the sheave 18.

The operation is as follows:

As previously described the boom 3, may be raised or lowered to raise or lower the dipper 23 but it is customary to set the boom at a convenient elevation andto raise and lower 'the"dipper by. winding and "finw-indingtha pended is sufficiently loose to permit the dipper to be drawn along the ground with out interference from the cable 17.

Previous to the lowering of the dipper 23 the bottom thereof may be closed by pulling in on the cable 19 so as to pull the bail 49, downwardly, and extend the lever 60 or 77, to the locking position. However, this is not necessary as the weight of the dipper as it strikes the ground, swings the bottom thereof to the closed position after which the cable 19, is wound on the drum 8, and the dipper thereby drawn inwardly toward the platform 1. The pull exerted by the cable 19, on the bail 49, together with the engagement of the bottom of the dipper with the surface of the ground insures com plete extension of the hinged lever 60, to the position to lock the bottom against opening, and the chain 76 is then extended so as to hold the lever from collapse. The drawing or dragging of the dipper along the ground causes the prongs 42, to engage the dirt or material to be taken up by the dipper until the dipper is filled to the desired extent. The drum 7, is then operated to hoist the dipper and if desired the cable 19, may be unwound to a limited extent but must remain taut so as to maintain tension on the chain 76, and to hold the lever 60 extended and prevent opening of the dipper bottom. The boom 3, together with the platform 1, is then swung around to the dumping position whereupon the drum 8 is rotated to unwind the cable 19, and thereby release the tension upon the chain 76. The jointed lever 60 is then able to collapse under its own weight, whereupon the bail 49, is thrown upwardly by the weight of the material on the dipper bottom and the material is discharged therefrom.

When the modified form of the dipper shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is employed the operation is the same except that it is not absolutely necessary to maintain the tension on the rope 19, to hold the dipperbottom from opening as the lever 77, ordinarily will as desired.

not colla se and permit the dipper bottom to open. owever, the tension may be maintained as a recautionary measure or not hen the dipper is moved to the dumping position the cable 19, if it has not previously been slackened is then unwound from the drum 8 so as to permit opening of the dipper bottom and the rope 80 is then pulled upwardly so as to collapse the lever 77 whereupon the bail 49, swings upwardly and the load in the dipper 1s discharged owing to its weight upon the bottom of the dipper.

As the rope 14, is unwound from the drum 7 and the loop 17, thereof loosens subsequent to the placing of the dipper 23, on the ground, the sheave 18, may tilt sidewise owing to its pivotal connection with the bucket. In any case, however the cable is prevented from dropping from engagement with the sheave 18, or misplacement in the groove thereof, by the guard members 94, which hold the cable at all times in the groove of the sheave at the lower half thereof, and when the dipper is lifted and the cable 17, is drawn taut, the cable, being maintained in the groove of the sheave 18, danger of injury to the cable or delay in operation of the device is thereby avoided.

While I have for the purpose of illustration shown and described my invention embodied in a certain form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the principle of my invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention 1. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having an openable bottom for discharging the contents thereof, a drag line for actuating the bucket to scoop material therein, and a link locking mechanism at the inlet end of the bucket for holding the openable bottom closed.

2. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having an openable bottom for discharging the contents thereof, a bail connected to said bottom locking mechanism at the inlet end of the bucket, and connected to said bail for holding the bottom closed, and a drag line for the bucket adapted to control the locking mechanism.

3. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having a pivoted bottom, a bail extending from the axis of the pivoted bottom and adapted to hold the bottom closed, and locking mechanism connected with said bail to hold the bottom closed.

4. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having a pivoted bottom, a bail connected with the bottom and movable therewith, and locking means engaging said bail' to hold the bottom closed.

5. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having a pivoted bottom, a bail connected at the axis of and movable with the pivoted bottom, locking means engaging the bail to hold the bottom closed and a drag line for the bucket adapted to control the locking mechanism.

6. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having a pivoted bottom, a bail connected to move with the pivoted bottom, a drag line connected with the bail so as to close the bottom, and lockin mechanism operated'by the drag line for holding the bottom closed.

7. In an excavating machine the combi nation of a drag bucket having a ivoted bottom, a bail connected to move wlth the pivoted bottom and extending in front of the bucket, a drag line connected with the bail for actuating the bucket to scoop material therein, and locking mechanism connected with the bail and operated by the drag line for holding the bottom closed.

8. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having an openable bottom for discharging the contents thereof, a drag line for operating the bucket to scoop material therein, and toggle means operated by the drag line for closing the bottom.

9. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having a pivoted bottom for discharging the contents thereof, a drag line for operating the bucket to scoop material therein, and pivoted means connected with the bottom and operated by the drag line for closing the door.

10. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having a bottom pivoted at the inlet end thereof, a bail connected to and movable with the bottom and extending in front of the bucket, and. a drag line connected with said bail.

11. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having a bottom pivoted at the inlet end, an arched bail connected axially with the bottom and extending in front of the bucket, and a drag line connected with the said bail.

12. In an excavating dipper, the combination of a pivoted bottom for discharging the material therefrom,a bail connected and movable with the pivoted bottom, and a toggle jointed means connected with said bail and adapted to be extended to hold the door closed.

13. In a drag bucket for excavating, the combination of a pivoted bottom for discharging material therefrom, a bail connected to and movable with the pivoted bottom, a toggle jointed lever connected at one end with the bucket and at the other end with the bail and adapted to be extended to hold the bottom closed, and means for holdin the lever in 'the extended position.

14. ii an excavatim machine the combination of a drag bucket having a pivoted bottom, a bail connected to and movable with the pivoted bottom, a toggle jointed lever connected with the bail and bucket and adapted to be extended to hold the pivoted bottom closed, and a drag line for the bucket connected with the toggle jointed lever and with the bail so as to hold said bail in the extended position.

15. In an excavating machine the combination of a drag bucket having a pivoted bottom, a bail connected to move with the pivoted bottom and extending in front of the bucket, a drag line connected with the bail, and a locking lever connected with the bucket and the bail and controlled by the drag line for holding the pivoted bottom closed.

16. In an excavating dipper the combination with the side walls, of a bottom pivoted to the side walls adjacent the mouth of the dipper, a bail embracing the said side walls and connected with the bottom, a drag line connected with the bail, and locking means operable at a distance from the bucket for holdin the pivoted bottom closed.

17. n a device of the class described the combination of a dipper having an openable door for discharging the contents thereof, means for adjustably suspending the dipper for vertical movement, a bail connected with the openable door, a pulling rope connected with the bail, so as to close the openable door, a hinged lever connected with the dipper and bail adapted to be operated by the pulling rope to lock the openable door in closed position, said hinged lever adapted to be collapsed by the bail by releasing the tension of the pulling rope to permit opening of the openable door.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MORTON E. PUGH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. HILLS, J r., FRED E. PAESLER. 

